The 6th global meeting of the EU Policy Forum on Development (PFD) took place in Brussels on 20-22 March 2018. Organised by the European Commission, this structured dialogue brought together representatives of trade unions, civil society organisations, local authorities and the private sector from around the world as well as EU Member States and EU institutions.

A trade union delegation attended the first Europe regional meeting of the EU Policy Forum on Development (PFD), the EU’s structured dialogue with civil society and local authorities on development cooperation. This event took place in Ghent (Belgium) on 15-16 January 2018.

The Fifth Africa Union (AU) – European Union (EU) Summit took place in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on 29-30 November 2017, in the framework of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy. With a number of key agreements that frame relations between these two leading regional actors under review, this summit came at a crucial time. Trade unions note a number of limitations regarding the space provided to civil society participation at the summit.

In 2016, the EU and Indonesia initiated discussions on a free trade agreement with the aim of facilitating trade and investment between the two parties. Trade unions on both sides are working together to bring the worker’s voice to the negotiation process, the outcome of which will have implications for the working and living conditions of people in both Indonesia and the EU.